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Howard Ratner is an unlikely style icon. The middle-aged jeweler portrayed by Adam Sandler adheres to the tenets of “bad” fashion: ill-fitting clothes, gross displays of wealth, velour. His sense of style is garish and outdated, but, against all odds, it works. Maybe it’s because it falls into the category of fashion so bad it’s good, or maybe it’s owed to Howard’s irrepressible confidence. Either way, it’s enough to tempt you to try the look for yourself.
Howard’s style, however, is not for the faint of heart. While in theory it may seem easy to dress tacky, the feat comes in being able to pull it off. Without Howard’s belief in himself and what he wears, the outfits would fall flat and just look … bad (and not in a good way). So for those accustomed to a subtler sense of fashion but curious about being a maximalist, it’s going to take more than the right clothes: it’s going to take balls.
While chutzpah can’t be bought, Howard’s outfits can (or at least close imitations). Below you’ll find three of Howard’s most memorable looks from the film, with how and where to get them. But remember, it’s up to you to accrue the confidence required to don them. And always keep your gems uncut — it’s what Howie would want.
Look 1: Leather Zaddy
To put it bluntly, Howard is a label whor*. He’s the kind of guy who wants people to notice the assortment of designer pieces he’s wearing — yes, that is a matching Ferragamo belt and shoes. The two Ferragamo pieces are instrumental to achieving the look (we strongly advise straying away from the designer, especially not towards Gucci), but a little more leniency is allowed with the rest of the outfit.
It’s simple: a polo, leather blazer and pleated pants. While Howard’s polo in the film is a mustard color, we think any polo with a contrasting collar will do (and that he’d appreciate the zipper rather than buttons). To avoid looking less schlumpy, opt for a leather blazer with a more tailored fit and pleated plants that are loose-fitting, without veering into baggy territory. Rare black opal and Knicks championship ring not included.
Hugo Black Knit Polo
River Island Suit Jacket in Black Faux Leather
Saturdays NYC Varick Wool Blend Pants
Salvatore Ferragamo Gancini Loafers
Salvatore Ferragamo Double Gancio Buckle Belt
Look 2: Passover Chic
As it turns out, Howie Ratner is kind of a master when it comes to mixing patterns and colors that otherwise wouldn’t work together. His styling skills are best evidenced when it comes to the outfit he wears to celebrate Passover with his wife’s family (and subsequently find out she wants a divorce).
Since it is a holiday, Howard has retired his favored pleated black pants for a pair of corduroy pants in burgundy (also pleated, of course). Paired with the pants is a multicolored striped polo in the style of famed knitwear brand Missoni. And to top it all off, Howard’s outerwear of a choice is a pink-ish, red-ish blazer that appears to be, of all fabrics, linen. It’s an odd combination, yes, but the varying pinks and purples in the striped polo manage to tie in the pink hues of the blazer, and even the cabernet cords are on brand with the overall pink and red color scheme.
For this look we’ve chosen an actual Missoni top (we’re dubious in regards to whether Howard’s is the real deal or not), some pleated burgundy cords that are pretty damn close to the pair he wears in the film and a wool blazer in “washed red.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a Howard Ratner outfit without the Ferragamo belt and shoes. And if you can’t bring yourself to wear all items at once, they make great pieces on their own.
Missoni Striped Cotton Polo Shirt
Blair Wide Wale Corduroy Slacks
Bonobos Jetsetter Stretch Italian Wool Blazer
Look 3: Velour Athleisure
Velour is scary. But Howard Ratner isn’t one to be intimidated by fashion, and he dares to wear even the most polarizing of fabrics. So it should come as no surprise that he owns, and proudly wears, a full velour tracksuit, and a patterned one at that. Luckily, it’s black, so somewhat subtle (at least by Howie standards). He wears the tracksuit when things get a little more tense and has no time for leather blazers and pleated pants (and also needs something that’ll allow him to better run away from loan sharks).
To ease you into wearing velour, we’ve taken some artistic license in recreating Howard’s outfit. Instead of sourcing a full-on tracksuit, we’ve found velour separates, like this Stüssy jacket and some simple black velour pants. Now, the jacket is both striped and velour, but if anything it reads as more retro than tacky. Plus, you’ll have the plain black bottoms to offset the excessiveness of the jacket.
For once in the film, Howard retires his beloved Ferragamos for a pair of black Nike sneakers. Although the exact style is unknown, we’ve gone with what we feel is a safe option: black Air Jordans. Considering how much of a basketball fan Howard is, we feel secure in assuming he’d approve.
Stüssy Striped Cotton-Blend Velour Track Jacket
Boss Black Velour Lounge Pants
Nike Air Jordan XXXIV
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